II11C OMAHA D'AlLYr , 117313 : THURSDAY , JANUAHV IvS , 15)00. )
OWNERSHIP OF WATER WORKS
Argument Against the Gky Plunging Into
Municipal Socialism
I
PUBLIC SERVICE QUESTION IS DISCUSSFD
KlmU < if Ta\nloii-Sn- ( |
Hullo * Are SoiiictlnirN MlxlcmlInn
The Dill ) of u ( inx < < riliuctit
l'r < in > MMl ( ) rill M a ncr.
OMAHA , Jan H To the Kdltor of The
Hoc : An Intelligent inquiry would be , What
Is the occasion for the hasty , lll-a < lv sod ,
Inconsiderate effort to plungu this city Into
municipal socialism and communlim by de
manding the purchase nnd operation of the
water v/orka pystem and other public util
ities by the city at this lime ? IB there any
objection to our present magnificent water
works system' ' Is tLcru any objection to
the service rendered * Is there any objec
tion to the quantity , quality or purity of
the water supplied' IB It not rare to hear
of any complaint from the consumers ? Is
there ony general complaint as to the rates
charged ? Will they not compare favorably
with the rattu charged In other cltcs | of
the snmo size and conditions ? Yes , but
they flay , the water eompnnj makes a profit
nnd the city should own the works , HO that
wo can make the prollt.
Shades of all the gods at once1 Think
of malting a profit oft ourselves' Think of
the butcher , the baker and the grocer } -
keeper having himself alone for a customer ,
making a profit off himself , and then ctitliu-
Hlastlcnlly < felicitating himself ximler the
comforting feeling that ho Is getting his
stipplleH a llttlo cheaper1
Yts , they mi ) , further , tlmt we made a
bad contract with the electric light com
pany , theioforo wo must \lolato every eco
nomic principle nf government nnd own tbu
cloctrlo light company at once "Oreit
Scott1" What a Bpasm1 It passeih all un
derstanding how men In positions assum
ing to direct the affairs of the city shou'd
absolutely Ignore the correct economic prin
ciples Involved and uarrow down to a lin-
ido controversy as to the details of .111 ordl-
ninco and that no stupid and Inconsistent
that It seriously rellccts upon their Intelli
gence.
In the councils of the city , from the
major to the Commercial club , no voice li
heard giving a reason or justification for
plunging this city Into municipal socialism
nnd communism a foolish fancy , an eco
nomic fallacy and n damnably destructive
policy What IH the necessity fcr this cltj
going Into the water works business ? Violating
lating the functions of government and In
vading the domain of Industry Has there
been any effort made to make a now con
tract with the present company , based on
the conditions now existing nnd protectlnp
the public Interests of the city and guaran
teeing to consumers the very lowest rates'1
Until It Is proven , after exhausting every
reasonable effort to make n fair contract
with the present company , that there Is o
HUbst.intlnt reason and necessity for the city
owning nnd operating KB water works sys
tem , wo 1me no right or Justification foi
going Into the water works business.
Hut , sajs the surface-thinker , the cltj
can make a profit. There can bo no prolll
xinless the Individual consumer , who Is ?
part of the city and owner , pajs n profil
over and above the cost of the product.
DnnuoroiiH Kind nf Taxation.
This , then , Is a tux upon the Individual
It IB the most Insidious and dangerous kini
of luxation , because It Is Indirect a ta >
upon consumption , unequal and unjust. I
ia llko a tax on broad the rich and tin
poor consume alike It dots not discrim
inate between the 1i ° t dollar of the pool
widow and the dollar which Is only onq li
an Inuuno of a mllllom They aic Impoeai
upon people without creating so much dls
content as direct taxes and without occasion
ing BO close a scrutiny of the methods li
vVhleh the proceeds of luxation arc ex
ponded. Indirect taxes are an underlnndoc
kind of taxation The rich and well-to-di
jiiny be Justified , from a sclllsh standpoint
but the middle classes , artisans and laborers
arc stupid Indeed to favor such .1 policy.
This country has attained the Industrln
supremacy of the world by reison of It
policy of Individual Industrial liberty. Th
man v > ho will knowingly , or ignorantly
abandon the policy of Industrial freedom fo
the slavery of socialism Is an enemj of hi
country and n. detriment to the woll-bcln
of IH | people The destruction of prlvat
ownership In all Its forms Is the centrn
principle of socialism and Is Intended to rr
suit , as It must Inevitably do. In a politico
monopoly. The political ownership an
operation of all public service Industrie's I
demanded by nil socialist' vvheiover thel
ovvs find expression The movement fo
V municipal ownership has become politlcii
through the leadership of politicians wh
have studied expediency , party pientlgo an
poftcr , not statesmanship , not economl
law In the highest and best scree
Our city ofllclalB and buslnosb men , act
Ing on the b-isls of expediency and not cor
rrct economic principles , arc lending the !
volet and Influence to a doctrine that inn :
inevitably lead to the destruction of pros
poiltyi to the pnralynation of Industiy an
progress , Impotency of Individual Incentlv
and freedom , pntoinallsm nnd dlscomfor
and Into the merciless Jaws of political me
nopoly , machine domination , Individual , mi
nlclpnl and social slave'ry Already thei
In a cry of olllclal domination and mnculi :
method * In , prlmniles , conventions and elci
lions by organl/cd street gangs and ell
appointees , re-warded for their political pul
Add to this tribe another largo contlngpn
the appointees nnd employes of the wat <
company , gai company , cle ctrlc light con
jinny , street rallwnj company , steam hi-ai
ing .company , telephone and telegraph coir
punfcs rollol Into ono hugo monopoly an
turnIt over to corruptiblepolltlclarB an
public officials , with no higher nmbltlo
, or concern than to hold their Jobs ,
StatlNtlPN Ulxlriiillnu ,
They quote statistics nnd say that tl
seivlco Is chcapcT under municipal owne ;
ship. Slatttitics are misleading , iliirollab
nnd lnaden.it itc. All the elements of cos
are not Included and the varied conditloi
are not lonsldered It has never bet
shown , and In the very nature of thlni
navor can bo shown , that the public c ;
manufacture a better article or render bo
ter service at n lew cost than a prlva
coiporntlon or .111 Individual capltnllut , i
conditions bilng c-qual In the very n itu
of things It frcjjuentl ) becomes neicssa
for municipalities to construct and opera
their water Byelom , for the rcnaon that
ordei to tecuro n pure nnd wholoaome vvat
fi'ppl ) ' . which is n .letcsslty , n stupcmlo
t'i'plnecrliiR undertaking and outlay of mon
era Involved and cqwiblo tcrnis runnot
made with prlvalo iupltal for the elite
prise.
Under thwo conditions and the absolu
norosEltj Involved municipalities are Jusl
fitl in ionstiortini ? and operating their
vnipr Msifms or If thry Are Impmrd upon
by n private monopoly with no other means
of reiltpss the ) would be Justified in pur-
cl'Rflng undpr thn right ot eminent domain
.and operating the plant If there I * no
controlling nwegslty to own and operate , It
1 * tbc function of government to control
nnd regulateIf the city government In
not strong et ough nor wise enough to
regulate and to supervise the business of
a monopoly propcrl ) . It Is not strong nor
vvlge enough 'o ' own nnd operate the business
of a monopol } economical ! ) . The tmrfnce
thinkers point to the mall service nnd Iho
public school service nnd argue from these
thnt the city should own nnd operate nil
public service Industrie ; . It Is fwfflclcnt
ni'hwcr to this to suggest that thp mall
st-rvlco and public education service nro
government functions nnd cannot be classed
with public service Industries
The- original ordinance called for permis
sion from the people to Issue Jo 000,000 3 per
cent bonds , the proceeds , or so much thereof
R * necessary , to bo used to purchase the
water works plant The Commercial club
committee , who have demonstrated they
are in nov.l o descended from the wise
men of the cast , have submitted a revised
dtnft nnd our likewise councllmen have
swallowed It llko a nest of pin-feathered
birds. Now , this bright committee limited
the amount to $3,000,000 , which any ono
with common sense ought to Know Will
not buy a water plant that cost 11,500,000 ,
besides $600000 recent outlay In Improve-
1 mints , making a total of $5,100.000 , nt a time
when Iron nnd construction material are
CO per cent higher than they were at the
time of construction As well attempt to
\i\tt \ \ the city hall building or Life or Hoc
I buildings at half pries. They ought to
know that the company would not submit
i to a $3,000,000 valuation nnd no court would
I compel It to do BO In this event the au
thority to IfRUo these bonds would be use-
lec' > and another Btibmlmlou necessary
The $ r > , OOU,000 propi nlllon Is much more
sensible In thd furtherance of the scheme
for the reason It provided sild amount or HO
much thereof as might bo necessary nnd If
wo are going Into the socialistic business
we had Just as well dump $5,000000 , for dis
tribution Ihto the hands of six councllmen ,
ns $3,000,000 $ , In tact , better , for there
might bo n chance to get a llltlo of the so
cialistic product for our money But the
bright spot In the new draft Is the ralslna ;
of the Interest from 3 to t per cent , for the
renaon , an reported , thnt the bonds might
not bo tnkcn nt thp 3 per cent rate ( tnd
thereby defeat the Intended object of mak-
I Ing the purchase. They didn't scorn to con-
I bider this serious consequence when Jhcy
I cut the limit of the principal to $3.000,000 ,
It seems , hoivovcr , thnt It was Interest and
not principal that controlled nnd directed
those gentlemen , otherwise they would not
have Ignored the elements ot correct eco
nomics and would have recommended nn In
quiry as to why an effort hnd not been
made for terms with the present company
before they plunged headlong Into municipal
socialism and violating the functions ot
government and unnecessarily and unjusti
fiably entering upon a policy destructive ol
Industrial liberty and progress.
KunpRR City owns Its water works system
nud consumers pay 52 per cent moro tot
water than wo do nnd pay n general tax ol
$65,000 annually to uupport Its water serv
ice. Minneapolis has had municipal owner
ship of water works for ten yean. Tin
Times ot December 31. 1S99 , sajs editori
ally "How much , tor example , has the
water service In Minneapolis Improved Ir
ten jonrs , Under public ownership1' we
are still taking water from the river ant
dlstitouting it at nn expense to the con
sumer that under private ownership wouh
not bo tolerntcd "
nxperlenco shows thnt wo do not get tu <
best and Improved service under public own
ership It Is more difficult to get extension1
of mnlns nnd supply nnd Improvements
Uut , conceding that good service Is suppllei
and thnt rates are lower In ninny cltlo :
under municipal ownership thnn here , 1
docs not follow that wo cannot , under thi
prcssnt conditions , make a contract with thi
present company that would place us on ai
1 equal footing with any city under munhlpa
' ownership under similar conditions. We ari
' cltoil to Glasgow , Scotland , and the Gertnni
1 I cities ns examples for our guidance. Wha
American would willing ! ) exchange crnd !
1 tlons with the Intolerant socialism and of
1 fiplnllsm rf those cities and countries ?
! I The present electric light monopoly couli
be solved at once by negotiations with :
" substantial company to supply electric light
! Ing upon equitable terms nnd condition
' - requiring them to put all their wireo undc
' ground in conduits.
'Mil- Out } of li o fPiimoiit.
1 The economic right of n government t
1 do for Its own account nny Industrial sorv
3 , Ice which It can cause to bo done .it ICH
r cost to taxpayers or to users of the servlc
r by contracting with Individuals or corpora
1 tlons Is denied. The obligation of a gov
) ornment to cciitrol all its industrial trnnpac
I tlons by considerations ot economic advdn
's fundnmcntnl
3 tago only
| It Is the duty cf a government to mini
- ' tnizo the amount collected by taxation an
- to maximize the benefits It confers It
r primal y purpose Is to protect , benefit nn
t btlmulato the tndu trles of the * people nn
- not to mnko a profit out ot selling privilege
:1 : or earviccs , nor to encroach upon the dee
o main of Industry by monopoll/lng Its en
toiprlsas Governments have no reason
- for existence as industrial organizations.
Good plain business scnso and economl
o principles demand that the clt ) thould entt
o Into negotiations with the water compan
. for the suppl ) of water for public and prl
y \nto uses , nnd not until every fair and rcn
I. Bomblp menus Vnvo been exhausted t
with said coir
; , secure n satisfactory contract
r pauy , and on ) ) as .1 last resort nnd ncces
- lt > , should the clt > go Into the business o
- Its own account The lust bargain for Hi
- users of the service can bo made by stir
il ulatlng that It shall nlvvas bo icndcred 1
il the heat manner Known to the art nt tli
u lowest possible price.
i Tl'o heut bargain for property owners
made when Its terms nru best for user
e The bcttei the advantage aio that a munlc
. . pnllt ) can offer ti citizens , In the form <
„ public services , the mote doblrable the ell
s bocomoH as a place of i evidence and bii1
| ' , Incjs This can bo seemed by proper rej
illation and control.
„
.j , It the people are to secure the greatci
'
pogo'blo bcncnts from Roveinmental funi
„
. . tl"ii ! < and public Industrial bcrvlces , tl
' „ o\cr"Iao of the powers nnd privileges of po'
U crnmeut and the direction of public polli
.0 must bo guided by correct principles , iv
. . cjpedlency Until this Is done over ) phai
Ij , nf governmental actlvlt ) , national , sta
l _ and municipal , condltlors upon which
' bio prosperity for the whole people ci
' . „ irat , will not bo established
II W. " '
Wi'Hl VtrKlnlii lliinU IN Ilnliliril.
I'lTTSIirilU Jnn 17A I'hillppi \ \ Vi
> UPC'lul ti thn l.i'aiU-r toitvs tlu iMillitM'i bn
„
vvtiB lubb'd ' last iuiht of bitvvnn ? " > Otw n
$0.000
HAS NO EQUAL
SEND FOR BAB/ESA BOOK FOR fifOWtRS.
INFANT FOOD. Bordcn'n Condonocd Mill : Co
SLEUTHS STILL ON SCENT
Oommilteo in QuoU of Witnesses Other Than
Hiratl Acuts.
NO ATTACK IS SO FAR MME ) ON COUNC'L '
ClO'ft tCKl > iliiil\c llmlj t | > to I'rcxc
I'njoiN Immunity from HIP In-
< l il 1111 on lini'ortnlit ' TeMI-
niiiii ) Toil j.
The sittings of the school board Investigat
ing committee were" once more deferred yes
terday In order that certain evldeiico might
traturo The attorneys behind theInquiry -
arc In search ot testimony other than that
offered by dete"tlvcs They realize that
however direct and convincing the facts dis
closed from that source may be , the evi
dence Is always weakened to n certain ex
tent when nccummulatcd by hired agents.
The evidence so far developed against Mem
bers Sears , Irey and Hess Is wholly ot a
professional character , the exchanges ot
money being made nnd 'v'tncBsed ' only by
detective ? An attempt will bo made to In
duce teachers who have suffered from the
persecutions of Insurance agents on the
board to testify to the facts This under-
Inking Is found to bo n dellcntc and dif
ficult ono ns teachers arc naturally averse
to the nototlcty attached to bringing charges
against nny member
An Important witness against Member
Cowle , who has not yet appoired , Is H , II
Dodge of Chicago ) western ngent for the
Wilson Venetian blind , Mr Hedge has been
In the city for several days awaiting the
convenience ot ( ho committee , but has not
been called up to this time , owing to the
detail with which his relationship with
Cowle his already been related ,
Coiuiull So Pnr Uuliulionclioil.
The rumor which has circulated about the
stress for several days that Commercial
club members behind the Investigation In
tend to extend the Inquiry to the doings of
the city council and other ofllctal bodlco Ins
so far no foundation In fact. In spcaklni ?
of the alleged Inquiry Into council proceed
ings C S Hay ward , principally concerned
In the school board exposure , letmrkcd that
he did not conceive It to bo his Immediate
duty to purify the whole trartsmlsslsslppl
region end that he had BO far been sulll-
clently occupied with the body In Which he
held membership and for whose Integ
rity ho was In a measure re
sponsible. President J. P Buige s ,
ot the Boird of Education , said there waa
nothing In the rumor ot an Impending sen
sation In the council so far as ho knew.
Ho regarded statements to that effect as
having their origin In certain newspaper
oulces. Attorneys Qalnes and Duffle , In
churgo of the Investigation , also said tint
they entertained no Intention of making an
| attack on the council ' The committee Ins
! r.o Jurisdiction further than the school board
Inquiry , nnd any attempt to delve Into the
cotlncllmen's records can only be. brought
about through charges preferred In county
court.
The committee still has evidence of con
siderable Importance In hand which It
premises to make public at Its sitting to
morrow.
It has been stated on the authority cf the
county attorney that Architect McDonald
would contribute some sensational testi
mony providing he were granted Immunity
The county attorney IB said to have given
him the desired assurance McDonald , how
ever , denies the report and says he has
nothing of an Incriminating nature to ex
pose regarding nny member.
After reading the World-Herald'rt story ,
under the caption , "McDonald Will Tell All
of It , " McDonald said "That report It
absolutely without foundation. I know
nothing of any corrupt deals 111 the board
and the story that I nm about ready to make
a confession provided I be allowed to go free
Is entirely without foundation. Attorney E
for the committee have been after me for
two days to testify against members of the
board ( but I have repeatedly told them that
I know nothing that would do them any
good , "
McDonald will doubtless bo a wltnesf
when the cases get Into the district court
even If he Is not recalled to the stand 'n
the present Investigation.
NOT UNANIMOUS ON BllRKLEY
.liicl.Kouliiii IX-iiKH'rntN Hunting a Mm
Who Cnii Oet Patriotic
1,1nmuSupport. .
"The democrats of Omaha have by nc
means settled upon Kiank Hurkley an theli
candidate for mayor , " says one of the partj
leaders. "Mr BUrkley has received the en
dorsement of the Douglas county democracy
but the Jacl.sonlan club has not endorser
his candidacy , and In fact ninny of th <
county democracy leaders nro not ardeni
Burkloy men , because they think that t
stronger man could bo selected They plain
to have Ind Information that Burkloy , because -
cause of his church affiliations , will not le
celvo the support ot the Patriotic league
and tbcso men lean toward W , S. Popploton
The latter Is not understood to bo an opei
aspirant foi the nomination and would no
Indulge In any contest for It , hut the met
who are opposed to Uurklcy because ho can
not win the support of the Patriotic leaguer
nro for Poppleton on the ground that hi
would get that vote wcro he nominated ,
"There has been n gloat deal of talk fa
vorablc to Guy C , Burton , but no one ha. .
over had an Intimation that ho could bo Induced
ducod to accept the nomination , He Is nov
, ln Europe and will not return before th
nomination
_ j "Kd P Smith Is aUo receiving mcutloi
from the Jccksonlan contingent There I
i
no doubt that the Jacksonlnn crowd vvll
make a stiong endeavor to find Bomo ono t
I
head off Ilurkloy , and they are oven accu.se >
b ) the county democracy of having declare
t
their opposition to the selection of II I.
. Mptcalfefcr delcgnto at large to the nn
tlonal convention , In favor of which th
„
county democracy has declared Itself. "
LOST CONTROL OF ELEVATOf
it
lnovirrlcnri'l | ( OUTiitiir nivoN I'roiul
in-lit l.orul I'liNHciiKor Mm a
0
Kniilil Ii > \ \ imaril Illilo.
it A slinKc-up of local passenger men oc
( currcd > esterday which , for nn Instnn
c promised dlro consequences It came aboi
u iiftcr thu conclusion ot the regular week.
„ meeting of the local passenger assoclatla
I In a roam on the top lloor of the Unite
Ktatcs National bank hulldlng The mcetln
was cntlrclj harmonious Secretary Munn1
leport of local conditions was read 1
ehovvcd n gratifying fltato of affairs and tli ,
passenger men vvcro In prlmo good humc
H when the mce'tlng adjourned
( Jcorgeubott of the Union I'acinc , T I
Godfrey ot the MUsouri Pacific , J n Hoj
nuhU of the nuillngton. Gcorgo West of t ) ;
Northwestern and J S Mc.N'nllj ot the Hoc
Island left the meeting together and entorc
the elevator A scurrjlng of feet was heat
coming down the hull and tbo elevator ta :
r I cil n moment , when Charlie Stockham cor
trading freight agent ot the Northwester :
InirrIM Into the i-levalor Ho was cordial !
greeted by the passenger men , but tu
BOmoUmt auspicious of the reception at :
hastily buttoned hU coat , fearful that tl
passenger agents might have designs upc
lil vvafh and other valuable *
The levator began to descend and li
created Itu rapidity each Instant It vvi
noticed that the elevator boy wai frtgh
cued and George Wwt turned as pala :
his Immaculate I.nen when ho rciognlzcd
thnt the Ud manipulating the rage vva * not
Iho regulir ronductors the cane flpw
by Iho third floor nt n terrific speed the ladle
lo t control of himself as complo'ely ns ho
hid nlrendv lost control of the elevator , nnd
sank helplp ° 8 nnd terrified upon the lloor.
The passenger agents confess now that
thch thoughts during tliolr brief down
ward flight were upon olher than questions
pertaining to the snle of tickets
The clovntor strile'k the ground floor with
n Jolt that Becmed terrific enough to dis
turb the foundations of the nig bank build
ing. The clt } passenger representatives
and the lone freight contractor were thrown
Into n heap. Thej succeeded In extricating
themselves from the dcbrl which resulted
fiom the falling of thp cage U was with
dlfllcultj that ench mnn gathered himself
together nnd hobbled oft up 1'nrnnm street.
Xono mirrored serious Injury , although each
was bndlj shaken up nnd bruised.
MORTGAGES HIS FURNITURE
I'lioenlx Tlmi Co % < ! Illn Shot-time
> IMV DCM oloiiini-nti 1'ronilNcil li )
1'ontollU't ! Itiniicctor.
Investigation Is etlll In progress In the
case of Ulctitml I'hocnlx of poslotllco station
H , for embezzlement. I'ostmastcr Crow and
Inspector Sinclair spent several hours
Wednesday nt station I ) , which Is now tem
porarily In charge ot Charles flrow.
"Tho arrest ot I'hoenix " said an officer
of the 1'ostolllco department , ' promises to
clear up several pieces of crooked work
which have occurred In Iho last tow years ,
the authors of which have not yet been
found. Of course , when a man Irt ar
rested all the crooked woik by unknown
hnndA Is attributed to him , nnd there Is no
tolling how much of It will be fask-ncd
onto 1'hoenlx. "
Asked If there were any now developments
Inspector Sinclair said"There Is nothing
for publication yet. Wo may ben'ady ' to
mnko public the result ot our Invcsllgitlons
this evening , but until wo are rcndy to act
wo can Bay nothing. "
H has developed that In order to lalse Iho
money to make good the shortage I'hoenix
mortgaged his fuinlttirc Ho ft-ared that
ho would be checked up , and on Monday
had tils application for the loall made out
nnd would have received the money
Hat night , and turning It Into the post-
ofllcc his defalcation would have been un
known , but for some renion his wife failed
to sign the mortgage In time for him to
got the money until after the Investigation
was begun
In addition to the mortgage on the furni
ture Phoenix gave the loan agent an order
on the postolfico for wages duo up to Janu
ary 16 , but ns ho was paid In full to Janu
ary 15 nnd laid off the next day the loan
broker Is out that security , though he says
he Is secured bv reason of the mortgage
i Wednesday afternoon the preliminary ex
amination ot lllchard I'hoenlx was called
before United States Commissioner Ander
son. The defendant , when arraigned , pleaded
not guilty nnd was placed under $1,000
bonds for his appearance before the United
i States court In May. He was not repre
sented by counsel and when the amou'it
I of his bond was fixed he sent for Horace
B Irey , who signed the bond , remarking
as he did so "This Is a piece of personal
spltcwork and I am going to see Dick
through. There Is a llttlo too much ot
ruining private and public character for
personal spite "
Speaking of his arrest Phoenix denied
that he converted the money to bis Own Use ,
but says that ho was keeping It at homo
and was so busy Monday that ho had no
time to turn It Into the postoffice , though
ho admitted to the postmaster that he had
used the money and had mortgaged his
furniture to replace It Ho admits giving
' the loan broker rin dtfler for monev un-
[ corned , but says ihnl he can collect It on
January 28 , the next iiayday.
CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION
fiiMeriiiiU'iit Wants Mc-ii in So\orul
'laoCH
Notice of civil service examinations in the
classified nervlce have been received by
the secretaty of the board as follows
rcbrunry G nnd 7 Examination ? ) for
record and identification clerK United State1 ?
penitentiary. Applicants must have know
ledge of the Bertlllon method ot Identifi
cation Examination ot assistant ethnologic
librarian , Smithsonian Institute Applicants
must have knowledge of Trench , Italian ,
German and Spanish
Pebruaiy 15 and 1C Assistant and _ exper !
In forestry , hlstoiy , department of agrlcill-
tuie Applicants must have technical
knowledge of the subject of forestry and
Its history
Application blanks may be had upon appli
cation to the secrotaiy nt Washington , and
all other Information will be furnished by
the local secretary ot the board Examina
tions will bo held in the federal building It :
thin city.
HYDOCK IS STILL IN JAIL
South Omaha I'ol locum n rails lo Plnil
Prlrmls to I'a ) Plnr Imiiosi-il
hj .luilirc Patti-elt.
Policeman Anton Hydook ot South Omaha
who was sent to Jill to serve out n $20 (
fine Imposed by Judge Pawcett for viola
tion ot an order of court relative to throw
ing an election challenger out of ft v-tln ;
booth , still lingers behind the bars , wnltlnf
for friends to come to his rescue. Jus
before going to jail Hydock searched al
over South Omaha , accompanied by n dcp
uty sheriff , for financial assistance , bu
the hcarch waa fruitless
Hydock has within the last few monthi
[ experienced trouble thick and fast , He hni
, ' twice been arrested prior to this qccnslon
I oneo for assault and once for larceny ai
i , bailee The iiHsault charge was dlomlsset
and on tilal for larceny ho was ncqulttcd
Hydock had his experience with Judg
Paw celt bcvcral months ago lie took ni
appcil to the supreme couit and thnt trl
biinnl nab Just affirmed Judge Kawcett' ;
decision ,
"I am Indebted to One Minute Cough Cur
for my health and life U cured me ot luni
trouble following grippe" Thousands ow
their lives to the prompt action of this neve
falling remedy U cures coughs , colda
croup , bronchltlB , pneumonia , grippe an. .
throat and lung troubles. Its early u = e p-e
t' vcuts consumption It Is the only harmlej
, . remedy that gives Immediate icllef.
IN HANDS OF A RECEIVER1
Grain Growers' ' Mutual Hnil Association is
in Trouble.
J. J , LVERINGHAM IS PUCED IN CH\RGE
Olllori * Clnltii 'I I KM llnvc ItfHiirlcil to
Hri't'lt prslilp In Ortlor to st-cnri1
till * I'lH IIKMlt Of till *
IjOXHUM ,
t
Upon the application of counsel for the
Grain Growers' Mutual Hall association
Judge Dickinson has appolnlod J J. Ever-
Inpham receiver for that Institution , which
has been In existence for about a year and
which hr.H had moro or loss trouble In the
courts of late on account of the Indisposi
tion of some ot Its members to pay their
nscgsmcuts. The application was supported
by a statement from C , C. White , treas
urer of the company , who declarol that It
Is Imposslblo for the company to pay Its
lotfcH because the members will not pay
their assessments , wherefore ho wanted a
receiver appointed to mnko the collections
and meet the liabilities ot the association
The application , with the story of Treas
urer White , shows that In August last the
company levied an assessment of 3 8 cents
on thu dollar upon Us membership , the
collection of which In full would have re
alized for the exchequer about $120,000 Ot
this Btim the company has been able to
collect all but $59,000 $ , which latter sum Is
still due because niembcis have refused to
pay assessments
Meantime the losses have aggregated
$50,000 , of which nbout $18,000 Is offeot by
assessments duo from those sustaining the
Icsbeft , leaving aggregate losses of about
$3S,000 , which the company claim to have
no means to pny and which It dchlres thu
court to have paid by i receiver who can
collect the assessments still duo The oill- '
cers claim tint a suit In quo warranto. In- I
Btltutcd some time ago by a man nanuil
Drown or Wakefiold , and the scandal that
grc'\v out of It has so discredited the com
pany that It has been required to expend'n
gicat deal ot money In an Ineffectual effort
to make Its collections and that the- col
lections during the last month have not
been sufflclent to mce't the running expenses
of the company Some of the members have
Intimated that they would bo willing to pay
'a ' receiver and the oltlcers chlm that they
Imvo taken this step to BBCUIC the payment
ot the losbes.
Attention Is called to the fact as shown by
the application for n receiver and Iho state
ment of the officers above1 given that while
something llko $01,000 of the $ UO,000 as
sessment appears to have been collected , not
n dollar of It has ever been paid out toward
mooting the losses , but that It has all gone
Into officers' salaries , agents' snlirloi and
commissions and general expenses Out of
the collections the officers appear to have al
lowed themselves munificent silarles an 1
have dealt with great llbcralltv with agents
In securing business. H Is flguied that of
the $59,000 still claimed to bo ilue In assess
ments over 25 per cent will bo found to be
uncollectible.
CITY'S SnARE IN GAS RECEIPTS
- iirlHi'Mnm1 from I'rniiolilHO
< lio\tx lluturlul IncriMiHO In
1/nnt Six Yours.
An Important Item of icveuue paid j early
Into the city trcasur ) Is the clt's share In
the profits of the Omaha Gas company , fl\cd
by the terms , of the ftanchlse. When the
twenty-five-year franchise was granted In
I December , 1803 , the clt's portion of the
receipts was determined nt 5 cents forever
over ) 1,000 feet sold and paid for during the
jeai. 'The comptroller sajs that each
year the percentage has been paid Into the
tieasury before Januar ) 13 , and that he
has checked over the books of the com
pany to make sure that the apportionment
was correct. The Increase In the city's
portion has been marked In each of the
last flvo ) cars , and In ISO" ) amounted lo
aln est twice the sum of 1804 Thlsjear's
painent was reported from the treasurer
Inst night and referred to the comptioiler.
ill.e clt's receipts from this source have
J bocn as follows :
isil , f l,30oni
mis n < i7t ;
1S07 V2U2) )
ISIrt . . . . . . . .7 HO 0 !
1ST . 7171M
1891 . . . . . 5r9ti ns
POSTOf FiCE VAULT IS ROBBED
Ncnrli Tlirop HunilriMl Dollars DlNiip-
licais Oi < T Mli < from tlu > 1'niU
Airline Station.
When the official in charge of pOstofllce
station B , 100 ! ) Park avenue , opened his safe
yetteiday he tailed to find any ti.ico of
$291 which had lieeii deposited there the
night before. Postmaster Crow and Inspector
specter Sinclair are making an Inquiry , but
have not ns yet fixed upon any theoiy which
can bo made public
Albert Davis , a clerk In the registry de
partment , was placed In charge when Super
intendent Phoenix wns suspended ycstordav
In the evening ho placed the money In the
pflfo , which he locked by turning the com-
blmtUn Thin morning when the safe wns
opened the money was gone and the matter
was nt once reported. The snfo had nppar-
1 ently not boon tampered with nnd the loci-
i hid evidently been thrown by eomo one fa
miliar with the combination
BROKER SIPE IS MISSING
Ii > | iul > Mii-rlllN Pull < < > rinil ArriiNril
Smith Omnliii llcul IXnlc Dealer
Who IN YViintril In Court. ,
J W Slpe , who was arraigned before
Judge Vlnconhalcr in the county court Tues
day morning on the charge of larceny bv
1 bailee , did not wait to hear the finish of the
1 trial. Llclng on bond Slpo left the court
' I room when noonday ndjouinment waa
: reache'l nnd 1-e never came back.
After waiting two or three hours Judge
Vllihonhaler Itemed a raping nnd tent a
deputy sheriff to lock for the missing de
fendant The deputy leturned empty
handed Ho was sent out ngiln yostc-r-
c'ny ' At noon ho rep rtocl to Judge Vlncon
halcr thnt ho had failed to llnd Slpc , ami
that ho had Information to the effect thai
lu- had crossed to the Iowa side of the rlvei
thus putting himself out of the jurisdiction
n
I
K
rf Drumming Up Trade
it I
' That's what Iie.L. . Shoonmn 1ms
,0
> r | been doing with Iho now aimoied
finiser lot boj H' wear a lojjtilar shoebill -
bill i oilncer pat nt stool fllTlisls or
hoisoslioos Inlaid III the solos ami UrcN
that niaUos thorn n ! h Impohslblu to
wear oujl-nntll those llttlo atmoroil
cinNois came Inl > port It wns a Hitio-
enough espouse In Mioolni ; the boys
y.MM ) lei all hl/es. Just M ) they are a
bo.v's bl/o no wlios to bieak and MIHK
the oaipi't nr Mialili the lloor. Wo
leoommond tin so IH the most oconom-
leal shoo hold
Drexel Shoe Co. ,
aha *
I' A UN All STHKET
for Infants and Children.
The Kind You Have Ahvny Boii 'M luis Itorno the signa
ture of Chns. II. Fleti'her , nnd has hccii iiuulc under hk
personal supervision for o\er ! H > years. Allow no one
lo deceive jou in thl . Counterfeits , Imitations and
Must-as-jood" nro hut Kxnerlments and endanger the
health of Children J2\pcrleneo ngiiliiHl Experiment.
The Kind "You Have Always Bought
Boars the Signature of
In Use For Over Years.
ot this court The matter was referred to
Iho comity nttornev for action , and nn tt
fort may be made * to tiring Sine back
The action before Judge \lnsonhaler wan
biought by Joseph AbiTiiathy , n colored
man , who iy he paid Slpe $ .10 as the first
Installment on n town lot In South Omatn
and that Slpo kept the money and refused
to Issue n tltlo to the propel ty ns agreed
Slpo has been In the real ct'Uite business
Just why he should absent himself fiom
couit In a cist ) wheio onlv $50 Is Involved
Is a question the tilllcers are probing
BABEL OF TONGUES IN COURT
Itiillnii , s\\ > ili * anil Ni-uro Vltonipt to
Clear TlnMiiNcU CM of (
ot Lonl s
All aged Italian , a young Swede nnd a 12-
year-old negro boy were arraigned In pollco
court ycsterdav , charged with stealing
coal fiom the L'nlon Pacific Hallway com
pany Of this tile the boy nlono could
speak Intelllglblo English , and In the case of
the Hall in nn Interpreter In the person ot
Uitonlo Vc-iiuto had to bo called in. Venuto
himself has only a slight ncqtmlntnnco with
the tongue ot his adopted count ) y "DuO '
Schwcnk , attorney foi the defense , speaks
German fluently , but nngllsh with Indiffer
ence Iho re ult was that the testimony
at times was bewlldeilng.
IlnlTo Goodsocke , the Itnllan , testified
through his Interpreter that he was merely
picking the coal off Iho ground
"Ho notta get Inno da cir , " repeated
Venuto
Hut the testimony ot other witnesses waa
ogalrst G-odsocke , so ho was fined $5.
"There's no excuse for stealing coil sueh
weathei ns this , " said Acting Judge Learn
"Aa yust stumlen round luke nt him box
yump on car , " said Swanson , the Swede , In
Ills own defense
As there wns no evidence In rebuttal of
this Swanson was dismissed. He had
simply been on the scene when the other
arrests wore made
It rein lined for the llttlo negro boy to
fmulsh amusement for the court. Ho told
Attorney Miller , the city prosecutor , that
his name was John I dward Snndcis.
"Have you a lawyei' " asked Ud Miller.
"Yes , sir. "
"Whos \ he ? '
" "
"You
The court room was merry for a minute.
It Is possible that Attorney Miller felt flat
tered and that this had the effect of tem
pering his prosecution with kindness
"Do you work , boy ? ' ho resumed.
"No , sir , but I'm going to work for the
Orphcuni next week. I'm going to dance
nnd slug up there. "
Again the spectators attested their ap
proval nnd the Judged rapped for older
"How long have you teen stealing c-al ? "
"Oh , about six months. My father wakes
mo early every morning nnd seilds mo out
with a sack after It. "
"But don't you know It's wrong' "
"Well , he'd lick me If I didn't go "
A railroad yaid detective , testifying foi
the etate , said that young Sanders wus only
] one of about n dozen boys whom ho hud
' caught In the net of lootlnc a freight cat
loaded with coal. Day WBB just breaking as
he came upon them They were clamber
ing over the car like Ilrovvnles , icllevlng
the monotony of petit Inueny by pelting
each other with coal. Sanders being Tat ,
couldn't run very fast , FO ho nlono wns
caught Weighing the car afterward dis
closed the fact that 1,500 pounds of coil
had been stolen
However , the Judge discharged the boy ,
saying thnt his fnthej seems the guiltier
one.
SAME DATE AS DEMOCRATS
Silver Itc iiiil ll < MiiiH PIC'lt > Conten
tion for IVIirimrj l ( > anil
TnlU for PtiNloii.
All Informal meeting of the silver repub
lican city committee was held Wednesday
a'trrnoon , at which It wan decided to hold
the city convention of that party at 2 p m
on February 10 and the primaries Wednen-
day , February 7 It will be noted that Uio
date of the cot'vontlon Is ( he same as thai
ot the demoouits nnd OIIP w ek hlcr thai
that ot the populists Thp silver ropubllcat
luuk'tH rxpiess conlldcnie In tlulr ablllt ]
to effort n fusion with the democracy , It
splto of the recent capture of the itDinorrntU
machinery by the faction that has decried
fusion
QUARANTINE NOT OBSERVED
lloiuil of llonllli mill Pliv ll -
nuriM' ( ) \ 'r il L"iint
SllllllltlOX.
People In the neighborhood of Twrlity-
slxth and Decatur streets are verv milch excited -
cited over a case of smallpox which has dc
v eloped In the family of All Dialing UtiOl Dc-
catur fltiool , ami which wns it-ported as n
onso of chlckcnpo\ Dr. P von Ijiirkum
The report wns eum-nt In the neighborhood
that the quarantine had been broken often
In thin case and In the rnftp of the family
of r M lllalns , 2525 Decattn , alio In ehnrgo
of Dr von Lackum
The Hoard of Hoilth reports that It Is hav
ing moro trouble over this cnsc than nny
which has come before It In years The
board has appointed n policeman on thnt
beat to kcop the Inmates ot the quarantined
houses within thu walls , but yesloidny ono
ot the Inmates wctil to the dru > t store neir
est Iho hoiiBrt , according to the druggist , hut
tininmto denies e-vei being out ot the
house
The board Is not satisfied with the course
tnkcn by the physician In charge and on
Tuesday notified Di von Lacklim of the
quiinntlnc established He < < ald that ho
would tear down the cird If the board put It
up , but the card icmalncd yosterdiy
The board linn ciecldc < l that It will not take
the case nway ft am Von I.ackum , but Insists
that ho observe the quniantlnc Under
standing thnt ho would not do thlti , n
physician was sent out Tuesday , but has
been recalled. The bond Intimates that It
Intends to Investigate Von l.ai'luim nnd sco
that ho obeys the rules ot the boardi but so
far no action has been taken.
Mart cloiiM Clininin iic PlnurcH.
100,301 cases of G H Mumm'B Kxtra Dry
were Impelled In 1811 , being 72-llin eiers
moio thin any other brand Carrying nn
immense Mock of choicest wines , Us quality
will always be maintained Its 1895vintage
now Imported Is exceptionally line
Port Ilmiiril UN il
WASHINGTON , Jan. 17 Fort Bayard ,
Now Mexico , bus been discontinued ns a
garrison post and the- buildings will ho
tinned over to the surgeon general of the
army for use In connection with the general
hospital to be established there as n sani
tarium for the trentmont of officers nnd
enlisted men of the army suffering from
pulmonary troubles.
! C < * i'Ii lour lltMiil ( l < * iir
And free from headaches with Wright's
Paragon Hcndacho and Neuralgia Cure. 25c.
So Many
People
Hav-o headaches thnt are
due 'to the over tasked
eyes Eye helps that help
and relieve are the kind
we have been furnishing
Our optical department
Is In charge of a compe
tent and piaotlcnl optician
who will examine your
oyrs free of charge Wo
gunranteo uatlsfaotory
vv ork ,
THE AlOE & PENFOID CO. ,
lycmliiitf Scientific Oiillclnii * .
1408 Fnriium. OMAHA.
OPI'OStTE I'AXTON HOTEL.
Mr , Frederick Hatter-
MIJH : "You HIP loiiinl ) to fool at ont-o In
ono of our $ ! { ( ) ( ) lints lor they me just
HH svvc-ll IIH HID liljilii'i jirlcod ones
lisue nil the louo nnd nu > positively t' i'
left In ( olor mid hliniif' H 1 M Unit IIIIH
never lioon cqutilod for Unit , " The
Dunliip mid SU'tbon.li.its . mill u'talu
tliolr position the loiulom In Hlinpos
the most lellnlilu In qutilltv. A full line
of handsome , stjl.ah ciiph 'rom 50
fonts up
FREDERICK
The Hatter ,
The Leading Hat Man of the Wen
120 South 15th Street.
Do You Dance ?
Our now ( omnoRltloii , tlio "Vnlso
Iiudlu , " by Van Alsljnc , bids fair to
liftonio lib popular asIIH IIH ! foi 11101
hit , Iho "Ilulu-IIula OaUuvvalk" It \ -
iniu < if tlioho di'llclouh waitinulndlui
that ht'tH > OUI 1)100(1 ) ( tlllKllllK MllllO It
's ' sliniilc It IH nut tiabliy anil111 nialu >
ui ciiti'ilalnliif , ' piano iniinhiM' Itsnu'itt-
c'l iiipuliiilt.\ ( , li \\ivii , will no iluiilit
lie for iliiiuu intibli aiiaiiKdl I' " ' piano ,
mclicstia anil inanilolla anil guitar
| ilino : aiiaiiKiMiu'iits , 'JH ri'iiiH I'oi Hiilo
lllll.\ I ) )
A. HOSPB ,
Music and Art , 1513 Douglas ,